Oil-feeder



E. B. -CUSHMAN.

OIL FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1920.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

7 J/ HI 30 of an 'automatic lubricant feeding mechai i ...e 1....

EVERETT IB. OUSHMAN, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO TE IERSON MANUFAC- i TUBING- COMPANY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, A CORPORATION 0F KANSAS.

OIL-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application led January 19, 1920. Serial No. 352,385. f

. To all wlw/m. t may concer/n:

- part of this specification.

This invention relates to lubricating systems for internal combustion engines or analogous structures and contemplates the provision of means for automatically controlling the flow of lubricant from a suitable reservoir into the oil or lubricant container of an engine or analogous structure.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and easily operated means for maintaining the oil levelin the crank case of an internal combustion engine or analogous structure constant, for insuring the efficient lubrication of the working parts of theengine particularly where the splash system of lubrication is employed.

The invention is illustrated as consisting nism' including a valve which may be normally held seated by any suitable means, independent of the valve per se, for cutting o the flow of lubricant to the chamber of the engine.v The independent seating means is 1 shown as a spring or weight to prevent the of the spring or weighted member so as to unseating of the valve by vibration of the en ine during use.

eans controlled by variation of the oil level in the container of the engine is also provided toV control the unseating of the valve, such means embodying, preferably, a oat'which, upon falling with the level of oil in the crank case ofthe engine, willunseat thevalve, moving it against the acti'on permit oil to iow into the crank case or oil container until the float is lifted sufciently to permit the seating of the valve by the spring or weight.

In the drawings,

Figure lis a vertical section through the automatic oil feed.

Fig. f2 is a vertical section through the automatic oil vfeed taken at right angles to the section illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l. .h

Flg. 4 is a detailed section of the valve structure illustrating the manner of assembling the same.

Fig. 5 is a Side elevation of a modified form of the valve mechanism.

Fig. 6. is a longitudinal section lthrough the modified forml ofvalve structure, and

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the liney 7--7 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings:

The container 10 is illustrated as a crank case adapted for use with a splash system of lubrication. The crank case or container is illustrated as provided with an automatic oil supply mechanism which may be supported thereon by any suitable means as, for example, the bracket 11. The container 10 is in communication with a float chamber 12, through an opening 13 formed by a diaphragm 14 which separates the upper portion of the float chamber from the interior.

of the crank case or container and serves as a baille to prevent actuation of the float upon agitation of the oil by the crank.

rIhe top of the float chamber also comprises the bottom of a cup or internally threaded collar 15, which supports a reservoir 8, from which the supply of oil to the crank case is augmented through an opening, normally closed by a float actuated valve. The floor of the reservoir formed by the bottom of the c up or collar 15 is provided with an opening 16 surrounded by an internally threaded valve cage supporting seat 1'6' into which the threaded neck orport 17 of the valve cage is adapted to be"secured. The neck is provided with a through port 18 so that communication may be established between the reservoir and the float chamber 12 when the normally seated valve 19 is moved off its seat 20 at the upper end of the port 17. The valve cage Vis provided with a hood 21 having aI lateral flange or head 22 at its upper end, provided with an opening 23 in' axial alinement with the port 18 of the neck 17, the port 23 being adapted to receive a guide or stabilizing rod 24 on the valve 19, which is in coperative relation with the depending stem 25, guided in the constricted portion 26 of the port 17 so as to insure the proper seating'of the valve when it has been los -- flange or cap 22 so that when the float 28 is not 1n valve unseating position, there will be no communication between the reservoir or container 8 and the float chamber. v

By rference to Fig-4 it will be observed that the valve and its cage may be readlly assembled by introducing the stem or stabilizing rod 24 through the opening 23 in the manner shown, and raisingthe valve against the Aactionof the spring until the lower end ofstem 25 clears the'valve seat, whereupon the stem 25 may be introduced intoport '30 and the constricted. portion 26 so that it will move in a true rectilineal direction during operation and the seating of the valve will be assured.

In order to insure a proper action of the valve, I prefer; to have the constricted portion 26 of about the same diameter as the stem 25 and to permitthe oil to discharge l through the diametrically opposite ports 31.

By reference to the drawings it will be apparent that the valve and its cage may -be easily assembled and introduced into the seat in an expeditious and efficient manner without the necessity for employing special tools, the assembling operation being comparatively simple, and the cage may be readily put in lacel before the introduction of the reservoir 8, which, for convenience, may consist of an inverted, known type of prer serving jar, the advantageI of which is that A extending upwardly within the reservoir 8 and communicating with the Iatmosphere below the under surface of the casting constituting the body portion of the automatic filling mechanism. i

When the parts are assembled as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, both inclusive, the filling mechanism will not function so long as the desired oil level is maintained in the container or crank case 10.'. When, however, the oil level falls below al determined point in the` crank case, the float will fall vwith it,`

raising the toe or valve actuating end 27 against the stem 25 to cause the valve 19 to be unseated against the action of the spring 30; Oil will then pass through the port 17 all times, irrespective of excessive vibration of the engine or bolting thereof, the feeding mechanism being designed to respond only to variations in the osition of the float, caused by changes in t e oily level within the c 'rank case.I .The advantage of this will be apparent when it is understood that without some positive means for maintaining the valve upon the seat, the engine vibrations and similar .causes may create a slight unseating movement of the valve and while a single unseating movement would have no ap-preciable effect upon the oil level, a number of these movements would result in flooding the' cranklcase or, container 10.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have Shown a slightly modified form' of valve mechanism, which 'y includes a casing 36 provided` with an opening 37 in the upper end thereof, alining with a valve seat 38 and with the discharge port or opening 39 ofthe neck 40, which corresponds to the' neck 16, in which the port 17 is located inv the ypreferred form. The valve stemr41 extends axially through the port 37 and projects through the lower end thereof for engagement with the projection or toe 27 of the float 28. The mechanism coper- Yating With the structure shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is substantially the same as that illustrated in connection with the preferred embodiment of my invention,l the essential difference being that the valve 19', which corresponds to valve 19 in the preferred form, is maintained upon its Seat by a relatively large weighted body 42, preferably formed integrally with the valve while normally maintaining it seated during vibrations of the engine, and in order to prevent the weight from becoming disconnected with its cageor casing 36, I provide a stop, shown as a set screw 43, which is introduced into the side of the weight, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, so that the Stop or projection may contact with the upper part ofthe cage or casing to prevent undue longitudinal movement of the weight with respect thereto.

If desired, the lower constructed ortions 5 of the necks 16 and 40 may be provi ed with sllts 44 and 45 respectively, adjacent to the transverse openingstherein to permit dirt and foreign matter to work out through the ports as the oil flows therethrough land thereby'eliminate liability of the valvesticking by accumulation of foreign matter.

ters-Patent is chamber, a valve casing including lVhat I claim and desire to Secure by Letl. In an automatic oil feed, a float chamber adapted to discharge into the crank case of an engine, an oil reservoir above the float chamber and ported to establish oil feeding communication between the reservoir and chamber, a valve casing including a stem projecting into the ported portion of said reservoir, a valve stem in said casing stem,

a valve on the valve stem, means normally f its seat, and av urging said valve against float for unseating the valve.

2. In an automatic oil feed,a ioat chamber adapted to discharge into the crank case of an engine, an oil reservoir above the float chamber and ported to establish oil feeding communication between the reservoir and projecting into the ported portion of said reservoir, a valve stem in said casing, a valve on the valve stem, means normally' urging said valve against its seat, and a float for unseating the valve.

3. In an automatic oilfeed, a reservoir, a lioat chamber adapted to discharge into the crank case of an engine, an oil reservoir above the float chamber, a valve casing in said reservoir, a stem thereon projecting into the Aioat chamber and ported to establish oil feeding communication between thereservoir and chamber, a valve stem in said casing stem, a valve on said valve stem, a spring coiled about said valve'stem and engaging said valve for urging it against its seat, and a float for unseatin'g said valve.

4. In an automatic oil feed, a float chamber adapted to discharge into the crank case of an engine, a recessed member above the,

float chamber and having an orifice communicating therewith, a removable inverted-` reservoir received in said recessed member, a valve casing carried by said recessed member, a valve stem in said casing and extending into said float chamber, a valve thereon, means normally urging said valve against its seat, a float, and a float-actuated lever for engaging said valve stem and unseating said valve upon the falling of the oil level in the float chamber.

a stem 5. In an automatic oil feed, a body comprising a float chamber, an inverted transparent reservoir detachably carried by the body, a valve casing carriedby the body and projecting into said reservoir, said valve casing provided with a port to establish communication between the reservoir and fioat chamber, a valve normally cutting olf the flow of lubricant to the float chamber, a float within the float chamber for unseating the valve, and means engaging said valve for normally holding it seated.

6. In an automatic oilfeed, a body comprising a float chamber, an inverted transparent reservoir detachably carriedby the body, a valve casing carried by the body and projecting into said reservoir, said valve casing provided with a port to establish communication between the reservoir and float chamber, a valve normally -cutting off the flow of lubricant to the oat chamber, a valve stem carrying said float and being removably 'mounted within the casing, a valve within the float chamber for unseating the valve, a means engaging said valve for normally holding it seated.

7. In an automatic oil feed, a valve structure comprising a casing having a valve seat thereon and provided with a port communicating with said valve seat, the top of said casing provided with an opening, alined with said port, a valve stem vextending through the port and said opening, anda valve on said stem, said stem adapted to be moved longitudinally and laterally for removal from the casing. v

8. In an automatic oil feed, a valve cas'- ing provided with parallel upper and lower end portions, said end portions provided with alining openings, a valve seat in the inner surface of the lower end portion, a valve stem extended through said openings, a valve on said sternfor seating on said seat, and a spring coiled about said stem for normally maintaining ysaid valve on said seat, said stem being adapted to be moved longitudinally and swung laterally to disconnect the stem and casing.

In testimony 'vhereof I aiiiX my signature. 

